Electric bread toaster



April 1951 H. OLSON ET AL ELECTRIC BREAD TOASTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 13, 1949 w HEN RY L. O L SON AN D ROBERT A. M l LLER April 10, 1951 H. OLSON ET AL 2,548,680

ELECTRIC BREAD TOASTER Original Filed May 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gmi inq""""-----. 7 i

HENRY L. OLSON AND ROBERT A. MILLER Patented Apr. 10, 1951 2,548,680 ELECTRIC BREAD TOASTER Henry L. Olson and Robert A. Miller, Grand Haven, Mich., assignors to Camfield Manufacturing Company. Grand Haven, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Original application May 13, 1949, Serial No.

1949, Serial No. 102,834

8 Claims.

The object of the instant invention resides in providing an electric bread toaster constructed as hereinafter set forth and having the functions and advantages recited.

The bread toaster disclosed in this application consists of a case A in which is disposed a framework B. The framework B and associated parts provides two vertical bread ovens C into which the bread may be placed through suitable openings in the upper portion of the case A. Within the framework B is disposed two vertically movable bread racks D which support the bread within the ovens C and which are spring biased to nontoasting position. A timing mechanism E is adapted to determine the cooking period and operates to release a latching device F whereupon the bread racks are returned to normal position at the end of the cooking period. The timing mechanism includes a revoluble member having catch engaging means forming part of the latching device F and adapted to be engaged by a catch formed on a latch movable with the bread racks and also forming part of the latching device F. In conjunction with the latching device F, a manual release G is employed whereby movement of the operatin member of the invention a first time resets the timing mechanism E, and operation of said member a second time releases the timing mechanism and brings the bread racks to non-toastin position. This is accomplished by using a connector between the operating member and the latch shiftable to a first and second position with reference to the latch to cause the catch to engage the catch engaging means when said connector is in its first position and actuated by the operating member and to cause the catch to become disengaged from the catch engaging means when said connector is in its second position and the operating member i again operated. The manual release G further includes resetting means operable upon completion of a toasting period and adapted to move said connector to its first position and cam means acting between said latch and connector and adapted upon reverse movement of said operating member to move said connector to its second named position.

This application for patent is a division of the copending application for patent of Henry L. Olson et al., for Electric Bread Toasters, Serial No. 93,059, filed May 13, 1949.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an electric toaster illustrating an embodiment of our inven- Divided and this application July 2,

tion with portions broken away to illustrate the construction thereof. v

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevational sectional view of the toaster taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cros sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig, 4 showing the parts in altered positions.

The case A of our invention as best shown in Fig. 2 consists of a lower case section l0 which extends about the entire toaster and which has ends I l and sides I 2. The lowermost part of the case section It has a flange is extending inwardly therefrom and on which the toaster mechanism rests. The upper part of the section It has an offset i4 formed in the same and which provides a recess ll. Overlying the section [0 is an upper case section [5. This case section is dome-shaped in form and the lower marginal portion !6 of said case ection is received within the recess I! formed by the oifset I4. Screws l8 extending through the lowermost marginal portion I6 and threaded into the offset it hold the parts of the case assembled. Attached to the ends I! of the case section l2 are end pieces I 9 which are preferably constructed of some plastic material and which form ornaments for dressing up the case structure. These end pieces have body portions 2! which overlie the ends H of the case and are secured thereto by means of screws 22. These end pieces furthermore have feet 23 which are disposed beneath the section In and support the entire toaster above the table on which it rests to provide ventilation and retard the transfer of heat to the table. The section l5 of the case A is constructed with openings I44 which register with the bread ovens C and through which the bread may be inserted into said ovens and placed upon the bread racks D.

Within the case A is located the framework B which supports the mechanism of the invention. This framework consists of a frame 24, of inverted U-shaped form, having an upper longitudinally extending frame member 25 and two vertically extending frame members 26 and 21 connected thereto. The frame members 26 and 2! have flanges 28 projecting outwardly therefrom and lying in a common plane. These flanges rest upon the flange l3 and support the frame structure through the lower case ection I0. Screws 2.0 hold the framework B attached to the case A.

Within the framework B is provided four heat- 3 ing elements 29, 3I, 32 and 33 which consists of sheets of mica 34 on which are wound suitable resistors 35. These heating elements in conjunction with the vertical frame members 26 and 27, form the two bread ovens C which are disposed between the heating elements 29 and 3I and between the heating elements 32 and 33. The heating elements 3| and 32 are also separated from one another to form a space 36 therebetween and in which certain of the mechanism of the invention is disposed. For supporting the heating elements 29, 3|, 32 and 33 two bars 31 are employed which extend transversely of the frame members 26 and 21 and are attached thereto by means of screws 38. The said screws are insulated from the frame by insulating washers 39. Other screws 4| extend through said bars and through angle brackets 42 secured to the various heating elements by means of rivets 43. The heating elements 29, 3 I, 32 and. 33 have reinforcing strips 44 secured to the upper and lower ends of the same and which also serve for attachment of guide wires 45. These guide wires are spaced from the resistors 35 and prevent the toast from coming in direct contact therewith and burning.

For supporting the toast within the oven C the two bread racks D are employed. These bread racks consist of elongated bars 43 which extend through slots 41 in the vertical frame members 26 and 21 and are guided for vertical movement therein. One end of each of said bars has an arm 48 bent outwardly therefrom and which terminates in a lug 49. The lugs 49 straddle two levers 52 and 53 and are pivotally connected thereto by means of rivets 54.

The lever 52 is pivoted to an upright 55 by means of a rivet 52. This upright is secured to the frame B in thefollowing manner: The upper end of said upright has a finger 56 which extends over the horizontal frame member 25 and is formed with a lug which projects downwardly through said frame member. The lower end of the upright 55 .has a flange 58% projecting outwardly therefrom which is secured by means of a rivet 59 to the flange 28 of frame 24. Another lever BI hereinafter referred to as a rack lever is also pivoted to the upright 55 by means of a rivet 63 and extends completely through the frame 24 and through a slot 64 in one of the ends II of the case section I9. This lever forms the operating member by means of which the bread racks D are moved into toasting position and by means of which the said bread rack may be subsequently released. The lever 6| has attached to it avknob 65 by which said lever may be depressed. Extending between the lever 52 and the lever SI is a bell crank 66 which has one long arm 61 pivoted to the lever 5! by means of a screw 68. The said lever has a short arm 69 which is pivoted to the lever 52 by means of a screw II. Lever 53 i pivoted to the bell crank 86 by means of a rivet'IZ. Below the lever 5i is another lever 13. This lever extends completely through the frame 24 and its innermost end is formed with an upstanding arm I4. This arm is pivoted by means of a rivet I5 to a bracket I6 secured to thevertical frame member 26. The said lever has an offset 11 at its opposite end and which terminates in an extension '18 projecting through a slot I9 in the end II of case A. A knob BI is attached to the projecting end of the said lever. The levers SI and I3 are connected together intermediate their ends by means of a link 82 which is p o to said levers by screws 83 and 84. The levers 52, 53, 6| and I3 all operate in slots 85 formed in the two vertical frame members 26 and 21. The ends of both of the levers 52 and GI project outwardl beyond the vertical frame member 21. These ends of said levers haveattached to them a tension coil spring I03 which has its ends I94 hooked into holes I95 and I06 in the said levers. The end I9! of the lever 52 projects outwardly beyond the upright 55 an appreciable amount so that considerable movement is given to the lever 54 tending to urge the said lever upwardly'and to move the bread racks D into non-toasting position.

The timing mechanism E on the invention i of the type disclosed in the patent to R. Sardeson 2,365,909, issuedDecember 26, 1944. This timing mechanism includes a strip of bimelal 86 which is mounted for reciprocating movement in a guide 87. Guide 81 is attached to an end plate 88 form ing part of the framework B. The end plate 88 has a foot 89 which rests upon and isattached to the flange 28 of frame member 26 by means of a screw 9|. The upper end of the said end plate is held in proper relation with the vertical frame members 26 by means of a spacer 92. The ends of said spacer are reduced as indicated at 93 and extend through the plate 88 and the vertical frame member 26 and are riveted over as best shown in Fig. 1 to hold the parts attached to one another.

Pivotally mounted on a shaft 94 is a gear segment'95 which is adapted to cooperate with a rack 99 formed on the strip of bimetal 86 by means of spaced openings 95. The shaft 94 is secured to the plate 89. The gear segment 95 has attached to it a section 91 of a rachet wheel, the teeth of which cooperate with a catch 98. Catch 98 is pivoted on a pintle 99 which is also attached to the plate 88. The'said catch includes a finger IOI which rests on the bimetal and which is adapted to be raised to disengage the catch 98 from the section 91 of the ratchet wheel and release the gear segment 95, one tooth at a time. A spring I99 secured to the catch 98 and to the plate 89 urgesthe finger IIH against the strip of bimetal 86. The bimetal is heated by means of a heater I92 disposed within the guide 81. It will readily be comprehended that the rate of heating of the bimetal determines the length of time required for the operation of the timing mechanism E for each cooking period.

The latching device F includes a Ushaped arm I08 hereinafter referred to as a catch arm which has spaced flanges I99 and III. This arm is pivotally supported on the spacer 92 which is in the form of a rod and which extends through the two'flanges I09 and III. A torsion spring H2 encircles the spacer 92 between the flanges I99 and III and is attached to flange I99 and to the plate 88 to cause said arm to swing normally upwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The arm 198 has pivoted to the flange I09 thereof by means of a rivet I I8 a depending latch H9. Latch H9 has a catch I2I at the lower end of the same which is formed with a surface I45 adapted to engage a corresponding surface I46 on a catch engaging member I22. This catch member forms part of a bar I23 which is secured to the gear segment 95 by means of rivets I24. The manual release G is closely associated with the latching device F and utilizes the following construction. The latch H9 is formed with an arcuate slot I25 having depressed ends I25 and I2I. This construction provides a hump 226 at the lower portion of the slot and a recess 221 at the upper portion of said slot. As viewed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the recess 22'! is somewhat to the left of the hump 226 for a purpose to be presently explained. In the slot I25 is mounted a pintle I28 Which may travel freely from one end of the slot to the other. This pintle is secured to a depending link I29 which forms a connector between the latch H9 and the lever 6I. This link is constructed with spaced fingers I3I and I32 at its lower end. These fingers straddle the lever B! and when the said lever is moved downwardl the said link imparts to the latch I I9 downward movement. 1

A gear segment I I3 is formed on the gear segment 95 which is adapted to mesh with a gear pinion II4. This pinion is attached to a shaft H5 which is journaled in a bearing I I6 mounted on the plate 88. A flywheel II! is also attached to the shaft H5 and the said flywheel absorbs the energy produced by the spring I03 and allows the bread racks D to move less rapidly to normal position at the end of the timing period.

For resetting the timing device E link I 29 is formed with a shoulder I33. This shoulder is adapted to engage a lug I34 on the bar I23 and to rotate the gear segment 95 in a direction opposite to that resulting from the operation of the timing mechanism E, thus resetting the timing mechanism. This shoulder serves as a cam which acts when engaged by the lug I 34 to shift the link I29 toward the right and to move pintle I28 to the end I21 of slot I25. I

- In conjunction with the lever 6| a switch mechanism for energizing and deenergizing the heaters is employed which includes fixed contacts I35 and a movable contact member I36. The contacts use are mounted on an insulating support I37 attached to a portion I38 of plate 88. The contact member 36 is secured to the end of a spring I39 which is also attached to the plate 88 by means of screws I l-I. A cam follower I42 secured to the lever BI engages a cam I43 on the spring I39 and moves the contact member I36 into engagement with the contacts I35.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The parts are normally arranged as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the pintle I23 disposed in the end I2'I of slot I25. Downward movement of the lever 6! causes the latch I I 9 to travel downwardly. It will be noted that the slot I25 is exactly below the rivet I68 serving as the pivot for arm 2 I98. In such position the force is applied to the latch I I9 to the right of the vertical plane passing through the axis of the rivet I I8. This causes the catch I2! to be drawn against the catch engaging member I22. When the said catch passes beneath said member the catch hooks onto the same as shown in Fig. 5. Upon release of the lever 9! the pintle I28 rides along the upper surface of the slot I 25 and reaches the recess 22'! which is situated intermediate the ends of the slot, as shown in Fig. 5. Spring I03 now urges the lever 52 and correspondingly the lever BI upward-' ly and said lever through link I29 and catch I I9 energizes the mechanism E. As the timing mechanism operates gear segment 95 rotates and as it rotates the bar I23 rotates with it until it reaches the position shown in Fig. '7. As the bar I23 rotates, the angularity of the surface I46 thereof with respect to the direction of movement of the latch Ila varies and becomes more acute. The friction between the surfaces I45 and I46 hence becomes l ss and the direction of extent of the surface I49 approaches the direction of movement of the latch I I9 so that the catch I2I rocks on the surface I46 and is released from the 6 catch engaging member I22 Without excess force.- Upon further movement of the timing mechanism the latch is released and the lever El and as-- sociated parts move upwardly. The shoulder I33 on link I29 then engages the lug I34 on bar- I23 and resets the timing mechanism. It will' be noted that the lug I34 is to the right of theslot' I25. This causes the pintle I28 to be forced into the end I21 of slot I25 where it resumes the position shown in Fig. 4. The latch I29 is now reset to cause the timing mechanism to again repeat its cycle.

If during the toasting period it becomes desirable to manually release the bread racks, the same can be accomplished by depressing the lever 6| a second time. The position of the parts during toasting is shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted that pintle I28 is to the left of hump 226. Downward pressure on the finger I32 when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 5, causes the pintle I28 to travel to the end I26 of the slot I 25. This applies force to the latch H9 in a direction forcing the catch I2I out of engagement with the lug 22. Upon release of the lever the bread .racks are returned to normal position through the action of the spring I93.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. With our invention release of the bread racks and deenergization of the toaster is accomplished by movement of the operating member a second time. Thus the operating member performs two functions. It is hence possible to greatly reduce the number of parts and to simplify the construction of the toaster and yet retain all of the functions of a toaster having manual release. The desired results are produced merely by constructing the latch member with a banana-shaped slot in which a pintle mounted on the connector is movable and in utilizing parts already provided in the toaster for operating the same.

Changes in the specific form of our invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bread toaster, a bread rack movable toward and from toasting position, a spring for urging said bread rack from toasting position, a timing device for determining the toasting period and including a movable catch engaging member, an operating member connected to and moving said bread rack toward toasting position a latch movable with the bread rack and having a catch adapted to engage the catch engaging member and when engaged holding the read rack in toasting position, .said catch engaging member forming a release means operated by said timing device and causing disengagement of the catch with the catch engaging member to release the bread rack upon completion of a toasting period, a connector between said operating member and latch and movable inthe direction of movement of the bread rack to bring the catch into a position to engage the catch engaging member, said connector being shiftable to either a first position or a second position relative to the latch, said connector when in its first position urging the catch into engagement with the catch engaging member, when moved by said operating member and when in its second position urging the catch out of engagement with said cat'ch engaging member when moved by the operating member in the same direction to manually release the bread toward and from toasting position, a spring for urging said bread rack from toasting position, a timing device for determining the toasting period and including a catch engaging member, an

operating member for moving said bread rack toward toasting position, a latch having a catch, guide means for guiding said latch for movement in the direction of movement of the bread rack, pivot means for guiding said latch for movement bringing said catch into or out of engagement with the catch engaging member, a connector between said operatin member and latch and movable in the direction of movement of the bread rack to bring the catch into a position to engage the catch engaging member, said connector being shiftable to either a first position or a second position relative to the latch, said connector when in its first position swinging the latch about its pivot means when moved by said operating member to bring the catch into engagement with said catch engaging member and when in its second position swinging the latch about its pivot means in the opposite direction when moved by said operating member to move the catch out of engagement with said catch engaging member, resetting means for the timing device operable upon completion of the toasting period and adapted to move said connector to its first position, and cam means acting between said latch and connector and adapted upon reverse movement of said operating member to move said connector into its sec-- ond named position.

3. In a bread toaster, a bread rack movable toward and from toasting position, a spring for urging said bread rack from toasting position,

;a timing device for determining the toasting period and including a catch engaging member, an operating member for moving said bread rack toward toasting position, a latch having a catch,

a pivoted arm, pivot means between latch and arm positioned for movement in the direction of movement of the bread rack, said pivot means guiding said latch for movement to bring said catch into or out of engagement with the catch engaging member, a connector between said opcratin member and latch'and movable in the direction of movement of the bread rack to bring the catch into a position to engage the catch engaging member, said connector being shiftable to either a first position or a second position relative to the latch, said connector when in its first position swinging the latch about its pivot means when moved by said operating member to bring the catch into engagement with said catch engaging member and when in its second position swinging the latch about its pivot means in the opposite direction when moved by said operating member to move the catch out of engagement with said catch engaging member, resetting means for the timing device operable upon completion of the toasting period and adapted to move said connector to its first position, and cam means acting between said latch and connector and adapted upon reverse movement of said op- 8 crating member to move said connector into its second named position.

4. In a bread toaster a frame, a bread rack guided for vertical movement relative thereto and movable toward and from bread toasting position, a spring for urging said bread rack for movement from its toasting position, a timing device for determining the toasting period and including a catch engaging member, an operating member guided for vertical movement and adapted to move the bread rack into toasting position, an arm pivoted to said frame, a latch, pivot means between said arm and latch and positioned substantially above said operating member, said pivot means being movable in a substantially vertical direction, a catch on said latch adapted to move into or.out of engagement with said catch engaging member upon swinging of said latch about its pivot means, a comiector between said operating member and latch and movable in a substantially vertical direction and moving the latch into latching position upon movement of the operating member and bread rack into toasting position, said connector being shiftable relative to said latch in a substantially horizontal direction to occupy either a first or a second position relative to said latch, said connector when in its first position and moved by said operating member exerting a swinging movement on said latch serving to move the catch into cngagement'with said catch engag- .ing member and when in its second position and operated by said operating member exerting a swinging movement on said latch in the oppo- -'site direction urging the catch out of engage- ,ment with said catch engaging member, cam means between said connector and latch for moving said connector into its second named position upon upward movement of the operating member and shifting means operable upon re lease of the catch for shifting said connector to its first named position.

5. In a bread toaster a frame, a bread rack guided for vertical movement relative thereto and movable toward and from bread toasting position, a spring for urging said bread rack for movement from its toasting position, a timing device for determining the toasting period and including a catch engaging member, an operating member guided for vertical movement and adapted to move the bread rack into toasting position, an arm pivoted to said frame, a latch, pivot means between said arm and latch and positioned substantially above said operating -member, said pivot means being movable in a substantially vertical direction, a catch on said latch adapted to move into or out of engagement with said catch engaging member upon swinging having a banana-shaped slot therein, said slot having a first end and a second end, a cam formed in said part along one edge of said slot, a

' I cam follower on the other part adapted to travel along said slot and when in the first end upon being urged downwardly by said operating mem- Iber swinging said latch to bring said catch into engagement with said catch engaging member,

and when in the second end of the slot upon being urged downwardly by said operating mem- 9 ber swinging said latch to disengage the catch from the catch engaging member said cam upon upward movement of the operating member directing said cam follower toward the second end of the slot.

6. In a bread toaster a frame, a bread rack guided for vertical movement relative thereto and movable toward and from bread toasting position, a spring for urging said bread rack for movement from its toasting position, a timing device for determining the toasting period and including a catch engaging member, an operating member guided for vertical movement and adapted to move the bread rack into toasting position, an arm pivoted to said frame, a latch, pivot means between said arm and latch and positioned substantially above said operating member, said pivot means being movable in a substantially vertical direction, a catch on said latch adapted to move into or out of engagement with said catch engaging member upon swinging of said latch about its pivot means, a connector between said operating member and latch and movable in a substantially vertical direction and moving the latch into latching position upon movement of the operating member and bread rack into toasting position, said connector and latch having juxtaposed parts, one of said parts having a banana-shaped slot therein said slot having a first end and a second end, a cam formed in said part along one edge of said slot, a cam follower on the other part adapted to travel along said slot and when in the first end upon being urged downwardly by said operating member swinging said latch to bring said catch into engagement with said catch engaging member, and when in the second end of the slot upon being urged downwardly by said operating member swinging said latch to disengage the catch from the catch engaging member said cam upon upward movement of the operating member directing said cam follower toward the second end of the slot and shifting means operable upon release of the catch for shifting said cam follower to the other end of said slot.

7. In a broad toaster a frame, a bread rack uided for vertical movement relative thereto and movable toward and from bread toasting position, a spring for urging said bread rack for movement from its toasting position, a timing device for determining the toasting period and including a catch engaging member, an operating member guided for vertical movement and adapted to move the bread rack into toasting position, an arm pivoted to said frame, a latch, pivot means between said arm and latch and positioned substantially above said operating member, said pivot means being movable in a substantially vertical direction, a catch on said latch adapted to move into or out of engagement with said catch engaging member upon swinging of said latch about its pivot means, a connector between said operating member and latch and movable in a substantially vertical direction and moving the latch into latching position upon movement of the operating member and bread rack into toasting position, said latch having a banana-shaped slot therein, said slot having a first end and a second end disposed below the intermediate portion of the slot, a cam formed on the latch along the upper edge of said slot, a

cam follower on said connector adapted to travel along said slot and when in the first end upon being urged downwardly by said operating member swinging said latch to bring said catch into engagement with said catch engaging member,

and when in the second end of the slot upon being urged downwardly by said operating member swinging said latch to disengage the catch from the catch engaging member said cam upon upward movement of the operating member directing said cam follower toward the second end of the slot.

8. In a bread toaster, a bread rack movable toward and from toasting position, a spring for urging said bread rack from toasting position, a

timing device for determining the toasting period and including a movable catch engaging member, an operating member connected to and moving said bread rack toward toasting position, a latch movable with the bread rack and having a catch adapted to engage the catch engaging member and when engaged holding the bread rack in toasting position, said catch engaging member forming a release means operated by said timing device and causing disengagement of the catch with the catch engaging member to release the bread rack upon completion of a toasting period, a connector between said operating member and latch and movable in the direction of. movement of the bread rack to bring the catch into a position to engage the catch engaging member, said connector being shiftable to either a first position or a second position relative to the latch, said connector when in its first position urging the catch into engagement with the catch engaging timing mechanism on reverse movement of he operating member.

HENRY L. OLSON. ROBERT A. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,729,937 Ginder Oct. 1, 1929 2,001,362 Ireland May 14, 1935 2,336,640 Sardeson Dec. 14, 1943 2,336,696 McCullough Dec. 14, 1943 2,402,576 Purpura June 25, 1946 

